ON THE ROAD-THE GATEWAY ARCH

At the last second we decided since we were driving through St Louis we might as well stop and check out the Gateway Arch. I wonder how many of you have driven through St Louis as tourists. It seems like the freeways catch us up every time we've driven through the fair city.

It only took us three times around ... across the river and back before we finally caught the right exit the get to the Arch. Mike is stubborn and perservers and we eventually made it to the landmark!

I love the color and changes in the sky in these pictures to say nothing of the form and shape of the Arch from the different perspectives.

After enjoying the view from the top of the Arch we visitied and had dinner with a family friend who works at an up and coming restaraunt that must be on your "have to go to" list when in St Louis. Justin works at Niche located about 3 miles from the Gateway Arch. We were treated royally with absolutely the best food of the whole trip and the chef came out to speak directly to Mike about his gluten-free dietary needs. Chef Craft (recognized in April by Food & Wine Magazine as one of 2008's Best New Chefs in America) then commenced to serve Mike with a gourmet gluten-free meal including homemade ice cream for dessert - a favorite Mike doesn't get to enjoy much any more.

ON THE ROAD-A COLOR PALETTE

Miles and miles across the great Southwest with gorgeous color palette inspiration.

ON THE ROAD-PART TWO

Much excitement driving across the Mojave Desert into Needles, CA! A lightning thunderstorm that was as beautiful as only the great Southwest can offer. And then it began to rain. The first squall was heavy but do-able ... most likely because we were able to follow a truck.

However, during the second squall we were on our own. The rain came down so hard and fast the little center stripe markers that stick up above the surface of the road were underwater and it was most difficult to see exactly where the road was.

As we came up to the crest of a hill just before descending into Needles the shoulder of the road was lined with trucks. I said to Mike, "I wonder what they know that we don't." but we kept going and found a room in Needles for the night.

When Mike checked in he found that they had been without power most of the day - during a high temperature of 115; 27 power poles had been knocked down due to wind and flash flooding; and the road was closed just beyond the town of Needles. Now we know what those truckers knew that we didn't!

The next morning the freeway was truck central as the road east opened up to traffic ... we shared the road with all the trucks that had been stopped for the night plus all the new ones that joined us on their trek headed east.

Next destination: Grand Canyon National Park.